Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
What are five values every Christian needs in order to find balance, focus, and meaning in today's relentlessly paced world? The answers may surprise you, says one New York City pastor. The world is faster and busier than it's ever been, with more noise and distraction unsettling our already restless souls. We are a people out of rhythm. For Christians who are frustrated with churches that only add to the hustle and bustle, there must be an answer in our interior spiritual life. We long for deeper, more meaningful faith. Author and pastor Rich Villodas's The Deeply Formed Life offers an expansive, interconnected vision of spiritual formation comprised of five key pathways:
- The monastic value: What does it mean to unplug everything and listen to your soul? How do you do it in a world full of noise?
- The multiracial value: Bringing a spiritual internal understanding to the work of racial justice.
- The emotional health value: Our interior lives are disconnected, and emotional health requires deep love that can't come from shallow wells.
- The healthy sexuality value: Christians need a new understanding of the connection between their physical bodies and their spiritual ones.
- The missional value: Bringing richer understanding to what a spiritual life is instead of a consumerist, disengaged spirituality.
In an increasingly fractured time, where little common ground can be found, these pathways can transform lives from the inside out and empower people to follow Jesus through the divisive, pressing issues of our day.
Synopsis
During our chaotic times, discover five forgotten values that can spark internal growth and help us reconcile our Christian faith with the complexities of race, sexuality, and social justice. Most believers live in the state of "being a Christian" without ever being deeply formed by Christ. Our pace is too frenetic to be in union with God, and we don't know how to quiet our hearts and minds to be present. Our emotions are unhealthy and compartmentalized. We feel unable to love well or live differently from the rest of the world--to live as people of the good news.
New York pastor Rich Villodas says we must restore balance, focus, and meaning for our souls. The Deeply Formed Life lays out a fresh vision for spiritual breakthrough following five key values:
- Monastic Value: unplug from this noisy world to care for your soul
- Emotional Health Value: why deep love can't come from shallow wells
- Healthy Sexuality Value: how our bodies connect with our spirituality
- Multiracial Value: a spiritual, internal approach to pursuing racial justice
- Missional Value: how to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a consumerist world
The Deeply Formed Life is a roadmap to live in the richly rooted place we all yearn for: a place of communion with God, a place where we find our purpose.
Synopsis
During our chaotic times, discover five forgotten values that can spark internal growth and help us reconcile our Christian faith with the complexities of race, sexuality, and social justice. WINNER OF THE CHRISTIANITY TODAY BOOK AWARD
Most believers live in the state of "being a Christian" without ever being deeply formed by Christ. Our pace is too frenetic to be in union with God, and we don't know how to quiet our hearts and minds to be present. Our emotions are unhealthy and compartmentalized. We feel unable to love well or live differently from the rest of the world--to live as people of the good news.
New York pastor Rich Villodas says we must restore balance, focus, and meaning for our souls. The Deeply Formed Life lays out a fresh vision for spiritual breakthrough following five key values:
- Contemplative Rhythms Value: slowing down our lives to be with God.
- Racial Justice Value: examining a multi-layered approach to pursuing racial justice and reconciliation.
- Interior Examination Value: looking beneath the surface of our lives to live free and love well.
- Sexual Wholeness Value: exploring how our sexuality connects with our spirituality.
- Missional Presence Value: living as the presence of Christ in a broken world.
The Deeply Formed Life is a roadmap to live in the richly rooted place we all yearn for: a place of communion with God, a place where we find our purpose.
Praise for The Deeply Formed Life
"The Deeply Formed Life is a book for our time. Honest, wise, insightful, funny, and--above all--deep. The way Rich and New Life Fellowship hold emotional health and racial justice together is beyond inspiring. This is spiritual formation for the future of the church."--John Mark Comer, pastor of teaching and vision at Bridgetown Church and author of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
"I've studied the Bible under Pastor Rich's leadership for close to a decade. The core values he shares in this book serve as guidance, not only for how we should live as Christians in an ever-changing world but also for how we can live a life of purpose--that consistently and enthusiastically points to Jesus."--Susan Kelechi Watson, actress from the awardwinning television series This Is Us